Thursday Night Football returns this week with the 4-4-1 Green Bay Packers visiting the 4-5 Seattle Seahawks. Both teams are hanging on by a thread in the NFC Wild Card race and this game would be classified as a must win.

Despite being in different divisions, these teams have faced off 7 times in the last 10 years. Packers have won the last three meetings (2015-2017) and Seahawks won thee three before that (2012, 2014, 2015) including the 2015 NFC Championship game.

One of the most famous games was Monday Night Football in 2012. Seahawks WR Golden Tate and Packers safety MD Jennings both had simultaneous possession of a hail mary at the end of the game. One referee ruled touchdown while another ruled touchback. After review, it was determined that Tate had possession and tie goes to the receiver, touchdown Seattle, who won the game 14-12. After the game, the NFL acknowledged that Tate pushed off another defender and should have been called for offensive pass interference.

Another crazy ending was in that 2015 NFC Championship game. The Packers were only in the game because “Dez caught it” but apparently didn’t. Seahawks trailed 19-7 very late in the fourth quarter, when Russell Wilson (who threw 4 interceptions) finally threw his first touchdown, connecting with Doug Baldwin with just over two minutes to go. Seahawks lined up for an onside kick and it bounced off the hands of Packers TE Brandon Bostick. Four plays and 44 seconds later, Marshawn Lynch was in the endzone and Seattle suddenly had a 22-19 lead. But the greatness of Aaron Rodgers led to a game tying field goal by Mason Crosby before the end of regulation. Seahawks got the ball first in overtime and scored in three minutes, sending the Seahawks to the Super Bowl for a second consecutive season.

Seahawks haven’t beaten the Packers since that playoff game, losing each of the last three years. In that span, Aaron Rodgers has thrown 6 TDs and 1 INT, while Russell Wilson has thrown 3 TDs and 6 INT. The 2016 game was miserable for Wilson as he threw 5 INTs in a 38-10 loss.

Seahawks have been plagued by issues at running back for years. They thought they might have solved their problem by drafting Rashaad Penny in the first round of the 2018 draft but he has split time with Chris Carson and Mike Davis. These RB issues have been very persistent in recent years vs the Packers

2015 – Marshawn Lynch – 15 carries, 41 yards

2016 – Thomas Rawls – 12 carries, 67 yards

2017 – Chris Carson – 6 carries, 39 yards

Russell Wilson was the leading rusher in 2015 (10 carries, 78 yards) and 2017 (2 carries, 40 yards). Incredibly, during this three game losing streak the Seahawks have not run for a touchdown against the Packers.

Some other notable stats:

Doug Baldwin has led the Seahawks in each of the three games, totaling 17 catches, 201 yards, and 1 touchdown.

Of Rodgers’ 6 TD passes over the 3 game span, only Davante Adams is active with a TD

Randall Cobb has led the Packers in receiving in 2 of the 3 games (116 yards and 85 yards)

Who do you think will win Thursday’s matchup of playoff hopefuls – Packers or Seahawks?